I'm sitting in the crowd at our latest athlete team meeting listening to the updates, the plans for the upcoming phase of our training then the Zoolander steps up to interview a couple of our numbers. One of the questions he asked was for a preference - "pool or open water". My answer to this question would be - "it doesn't matter, as long as it is over!"
I am not a fan of swimming. Of the 3 disciplines of our sport, the first is always a bit of a chore that needs to be completed before I can go out and play.
Funnily enough, via a couple of unrelated circumstances, the only training sessions I made it to in the last 2 weeks were swims. Sick for a week meant rest and recovery, then a return to training with a swim on Monday. Team meeting on Tuesday so, not wanting to ride to and arrive sweaty, I didn't run in the morning. Wednesday night swim again then Thursday was taken up with "The Night of the Notables" at my daughter's school. (she was Queen Victoria and was brilliant by the way)
Coach Mick was in charge on Wednesday and as is usual, he was telling me off for a problem with my stroke. I am fairly used to being pulled up at the top of the lap for the erroneous error that is hindering my progression out of the low intermediates. "Roll your shoulders!" he yelled as he demonstrated the proper form. This action allows you to glide further, catch the water earlier and thereby push more effectively. "You've gotta get your stroke count under 50"
So, for the next 20 minutes I tried to emulate the action, counting as I went. Two things became apparent pretty quick, I'm not great at concentrating on more than as couple of things at once (technique and counting meant I kept forgetting to breathe out) and secondly, this gliding stuff worked but was tough on my shoulders!
By the end of the session I had completed a number of laps with a stroke count of 45 and was feeling pretty drained. Getting the stroke right is one thing, doing it economically is another. I am hopeful that over time I'll start to see this economy creep in and I'll fatigue less rapidly. Like it or not, I'm going to have to get to the end of many more of these sessions.
So, with another swim over and another occasion where the coach picked flaws in my action I thought back to the earlier question. This time however, a new response came to mind. Yes, I was still glad it was done but this time I was thinking "at least he didn't tell me off for my arm crossing the mid-line as usual!"
It looks like I've got one problem sorted out and we are now onto the next point.
I'll count that as a win.
I am not a fan of swimming. Of the 3 disciplines of our sport, the first is always a bit of a chore that needs to be completed before I can go out and play.
Funnily enough, via a couple of unrelated circumstances, the only training sessions I made it to in the last 2 weeks were swims. Sick for a week meant rest and recovery, then a return to training with a swim on Monday. Team meeting on Tuesday so, not wanting to ride to and arrive sweaty, I didn't run in the morning. Wednesday night swim again then Thursday was taken up with "The Night of the Notables" at my daughter's school. (she was Queen Victoria and was brilliant by the way)
Coach Mick was in charge on Wednesday and as is usual, he was telling me off for a problem with my stroke. I am fairly used to being pulled up at the top of the lap for the erroneous error that is hindering my progression out of the low intermediates. "Roll your shoulders!" he yelled as he demonstrated the proper form. This action allows you to glide further, catch the water earlier and thereby push more effectively. "You've gotta get your stroke count under 50"
So, for the next 20 minutes I tried to emulate the action, counting as I went. Two things became apparent pretty quick, I'm not great at concentrating on more than as couple of things at once (technique and counting meant I kept forgetting to breathe out) and secondly, this gliding stuff worked but was tough on my shoulders!
By the end of the session I had completed a number of laps with a stroke count of 45 and was feeling pretty drained. Getting the stroke right is one thing, doing it economically is another. I am hopeful that over time I'll start to see this economy creep in and I'll fatigue less rapidly. Like it or not, I'm going to have to get to the end of many more of these sessions.
So, with another swim over and another occasion where the coach picked flaws in my action I thought back to the earlier question. This time however, a new response came to mind. Yes, I was still glad it was done but this time I was thinking "at least he didn't tell me off for my arm crossing the mid-line as usual!"
It looks like I've got one problem sorted out and we are now onto the next point.
I'll count that as a win.
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